Belarus in March 2026: the most important developments in politics
In March 2026, Belarus's politics were dominated by talks with the United States. On 19 March, President Alexander Lukashenko told a visiting U.S. delegation that he remains a supporter of Donald Trump and that a personal meeting could happen soon. U.S. Special Envoy John Coale sought the release of political prisoners, and Lukashenko said there are no political articles in Belarus's Criminal Code. The envoy said Belarus had released 250 political prisoners after negotiations, and by 20 March the freed prisoners had arrived in Lithuania. Lukashenko said Trump had offered to meet him in Florida and that he was preparing for a possible "big deal"; on 23 March the U.S. was reported to want to invite him to the White House. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said the EU should not follow the U.S. lead on easing sanctions on Belarus, while the envoy spoke of great progress in relations between Lithuania and Belarus.
On 25 and 26 March, Lukashenko made his first official visit to North Korea, where Kim Jong Un received him with a ceremony with military honours. The two leaders signed a treaty on friendship and cooperation, exchanged gifts including weapons and discussed possible joint industrial projects. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said Lukashenko is "not an independent actor" and that Belarus remains dependent on Russia. Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin held a phone call on 21 March, and both approved agreements between Belarus and Russia.
Lukashenko also commented on the war in the Middle East. He met the Iranian ambassador on 4 March and said the conflict was becoming unpredictable, and on 13 March he said those behind the attack on Iran had failed to achieve their goals. The same day he threatened a strike with the Oreshnik weapon system if Belarus is targeted, and Belarus later warned neighbouring countries against statements about a possible attack from its territory.
At home, Lukashenko made appointments across ministries and regions and demanded a crackdown on business intermediaries. The Minister of Natural Resources was arrested on bribery charges and dismissed. The International Criminal Court opened an investigation into alleged crimes by Belarusian authorities against opposition members in Lithuania.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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